Stunning Development: Jets Comeback to Beat Patriots

JETS 28
PATRIOTS 14

Just when you thought the season was over, the Jets remind you that it is indeed a long season.

If you told 82,000 Jet fans sitting in New Meadowlands Stadium after Randy Moss made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch to give New England a 14-7 that the Jets would win the game, they would have told you you are nuts.

But that is what happened. Coming out of the break the Jets put together a terrific scoring drive, highlighted by Mark Sanchez's 39 yard completion to Dustin Keller, who was wide open in the middle of the field. A 25 yards on two carries by LaDainian Tomlinson to set up a field goal to cut the deficit to 14-13.

Suddenly the Patriots vaunted offense that put up 221 yards on the Jets in the first half couldn't do anything in the second half, and this was with Darrelle Revis out of the game for Gang Green. Brady threw two dreary incompletions on their first third quarter drive, then the Jets went to work.

Sanchez hit Jerricho Cotchery on the sideline for 10, hit Keller for 21 down the sideline, and the Tomlinson did the rest with a 31 yard run to spot the ball at the Pats four yard line. Sanchez drilled the ball into Cotchery's hands for the TD. Up 19-14, the Jets needed a two point conversion - the ball was to go to Braylon Edwards, who last season dropped a two point conversion against the Jaguars that cost the Jets the game. Not this time. Edwards hauled in the TPC giving New York a stunning 21-17 lead.

Sanchez was very good. Most of his passes were of the short, precision variety, mostly targeted to the sidelines. The key for Sanchez was his feet. He was able to stay mobile in the pocket for much of the second half, creating open lanes in the middle of the field for his receivers. Does he still make you nervous? Yes, you can't blame anyone who was waiting for Sanchez to make that big mistake, but he never did.

Sanchez threw three touchdowns in the effort, and a Patriots defense that is indeed dreadful.

Defensively the Jets made the Patriots look like a bunch of old men. Wes Welker killed the Jets in the first half, but was held to two catches in the entire second half. After his great one-handed catch, Randy Moss couldn't hold onto the ball, bobbling one pass into the hands of Jets safety Brodney Pool.

Brady looked old. He wasn't under a lot of pressure, with the exception of Jason Taylor's ball stripping sack late the fourth quarter. His passes were either off target or dropped by his receivers.

The win silences the critics of the Jets ... for now. The Jets have a huge game next week at Miami with first place in the AFC East on the line. Who knew...a week ago the Jets were on death's door, now they are competing for a division title.